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Rearward vs Backwards - What's the difference?

rearward | backwards | Synonyms |

Backwards is a synonym of rearward.



As adjectives the difference between rearward and backwards

is that rearward is toward the back or rear of something while backwards is oriented toward the back.

As adverbs the difference between rearward and backwards

is that rearward is toward the back or rear of something while backwards is toward the back.

As a noun rearward

is the part that comes last or is situated in the rear; conclusion; wind-up.

rearward

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The part that comes last or is situated in the rear; conclusion; wind-up.
  • * 1599 ,
  • *:Do not live, Hero; do not ope thine eyes;
  • *:For, did I think thou wouldst not quickly die,
  • *:Thought I thy spirits were stronger than thy shames,
  • *:Myself would, on the rearward of reproaches,
  • *:Strike at thy life.
  • The last troop; the rear of an army; a rear guard.
    • (Shakespeare)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Toward the back or rear of something.
    • The rearward seats of the bus were unpleasantly close to the toilet facilities.

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • Toward the back or rear of something.
    • She stumbled rearward through the bus, hoping to make it to the toilet before she caused a mess.

    backwards

    English

    Alternative forms

    * backward

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Oriented toward the back.
    • The battleship had three backwards guns at the stern, in addition to the primary complement .
  • Reversed.
    • The backwards lettering on emergency vehicles makes it possible to read in the rear-view mirror.
  • (derogatory) Behind current trends or technology.
    • Modern medicine regards the use of leeches as a backwards practice.
  • Clumsy, inept, or inefficient.
    • He was a very backwards scholar, but he was a marvel on the football field.

    Usage notes

    * In senses 3 and 4, and often in American English, backward is preferred.

    Synonyms

    * (oriented toward the back) * (reversed) mirror image, switched, back to front * (behind current trends or technology) crude, dated, obsolete, primitive * awkward, fumbling, incompetent, poor

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • Toward the back.
    • The cabinet toppled over backwards .
    Life is lived forwards, but understood backwards . —Søren Kierkegaard
  • In the opposite direction to usual.
    • The clock did not work because the battery was inserted backwards .
  • In a manner such that the back precedes the front.
    • The tour guide walked backwards while droning on to the bored seniors.

    Usage notes

    * In written American English, backward is more common. * Strictly speaking, backwards'' is an adverb and ''backward is an adjective in British English; in American English, the rule may be reversed. This follows the same usage for similar words ending in -ward/-wards and -way/-ways. See also -wise. *: It was a backward move'' vs ''He moved backwards * Also, even though an adverb may be used in adjectival combinations (eg a quickly moving car ), only the -ward forms are commonly used in adjectival combinations, e.g.: *: A backward-facing statue. / A backward facing statue.

    Synonyms

    * (toward the back) hindwards, rearward, retrograde * (in the opposite direction of usual) contrariwise, reversedly * (so that the back precedes the front) back to front, in reverse

    Derived terms

    * backwards and forwards

    Anagrams

    *